Jenal Jetty
When we talk about villages in Singapore, many of us think of Kampong Lorong Buangkok or perhaps Kampong Sungei Durian. But, tucked away in the north of Singapore, you’ll find Jenal Jetty.
Chances are, you haven’t heard of Jenal Jetty. But if you have, you’ll know that it’s crazy different from the rest of Singapore. Singapore’s last fishing village, you could say, is a time capsule from the past.
Singapore’s “last fishing village”
Like many of the best-kept secrets in Singapore, we only discovered Jenal Jetty through a virtual exploration of our island via Google Maps.
A quick dive into Google surfaced a few different versions of Jenal Jetty’s backstory. Some say it used to be a group of illegal jetties built without permission a long time ago, while others say it’s always been inhabited by dwellers native to the area.
Mr & Mrs Huang – our “guides” for the day.
To resolve our 1,001 burning questions, we searched high and low for someone who knew of Jenal Jetty, and eventually found boat owner and fishing hobbyist Uncle Huang. He and his wife graciously offered to be our guides for a day, and got us special access to the jetty.
Entering Jenal Jetty
Our arrival at Jenal Jetty was met with heavy rain. First thought? Oh crap. Yet, it was also thanks to the rain that Uncle Huang could introduce us to the elusive owner of the area, as everyone sought shelter under the main hut.
The 83-year-old landlord is camera-shy and preferred not to be named, but in true kampung fashion, warmly welcomed us with a piping-hot pot of tea served in a China set and shared a little more about his little enclave:
Alas, Jenal Jetty, despite the name, isn’t just one jetty. It comprises 4 jetties, each managed by a different owner. The one we visited didn’t have an actual name but was coined “Chinese Jetty” because of the ethnicity of most of the fishermen who use it; another one next door is known as the “Malay Jetty”.
To answer the #1 question you may have, the answer is nope; no one actually lives in this fishing village. As much as Jenal Jetty seems like a wonderful place to indulge in the great outdoors, the reason why no one stays over boils down to one very thing: mosquitoes. They’re truly vicious, just like the ones on Pulau Ubin.
Unlike kelongs, which are fish farms located offshore from Singapore, the mostly elderly fishermen of Jenal Jetty go out to sea to fish. Sometimes, they would sell their catches to the markets, but most of the time, they would sell them to friends and family. Aside from the fishermen and boat owners, the community also includes former kampong residents who would come by to chat.
Giant water tanks used to collect rainwater for washing and cleaning.
What struck us as the most bizarre though, was how far it was removed from civilisation. Connected to the mainland at the edge of Seletar, the jetty is off the grid with no water and no electricity supply. To stay connected to the rest of Singapore, some huts have roofs with solar panels for electricity, and the fishermen collect rainwater for washing and cleaning.
It’s hard to imagine anywhere in the hustlin’ city of Singapore that’s so detached from the online world. And yet, here we were – a place where time seemed to come to a standstill.
Today I learnt: Papayas and passion fruits grow in Singapore.
If you’re wondering where the toilet is, it’s here in the mangrove. Au naturale~
Second question: Is this all legal? While we didn’t find much info on Jenal Jetty’s past, it operates in the green today, with annual fees paid to the Singapore Land Authority.
And here’s something cool: despite the fact that the land isn’t free real estate, the owners of the jetties here don’t charge high fees for docking, with only token fees passed on to the boat owners. And with that, it has somehow managed to sustain a mostly senior customer base and retain that rustic charm.
The fishermen at Jenal Jetty & durians from the sea
A fisherman docking his boat after hours at sea.
Once the heavy rain made way for a cool, cloudy morning, we went out to explore the ~30M-long jetty that stretches out into the sea. Some fishermen were coming back from their early morning fishing trips, with crabs, fish, and other fresh seafood in tow.
Uncle Huang owns a small boat for weekend leisure fishing with his brothers. Today, there are only around 30 fishermen making a living out of selling their catch of the day at the jetty.
Unlike Senoko Fishery Port, the public can’t enter the area. Only boat owners, their friends, and regular customers can access the area, but here’s a glimpse of some of the action:
Assortment of fish.
Mudcrabs.
Some fishermen also came back with a sack full of durians, which they scooped out from a shore nearby. The king of all fruits also dominates the sea, it seems, and while they’re no Mao Shan Wang, they tasted pretty darn good.
What is happening to Jenal Jetty?
Image adapted from: @ngscs2004 via Instagram
Since 2003, there has been a master plan to build a bridge parallel to the Yishun Dam, which would sit on the site of Jenal Jetty. By 2019, many of the occupants were prepared to leave, but the pandemic delayed plans. There haven’t been any updates from the authorities, and many of the fishermen are just waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Can you visit Jenal Jetty?
Jenal Jetty at sunset from Seletar West Link.
Image credit: Jacky Siang via Google Maps
Unfortunately, the Jenal Jetty is private property that restricts access to the general public, and anyone entering and exiting must be registered. It’s a close-knit community in a fenced-up compound with a gate and a tiny security post, and you can only enter if you have a boat there or if security is informed of your arrival beforehand.
Where are the best views of Jenal Jetty?
If you still want to check out this Singapore fishing village, the best views are from the Yishun Dam or Seletar West Link. We recommend arriving before sunset to capture beautiful golden hour photos with the Johor Strait for the ‘gram.
Exploring a gem of the past
Out of sight and out of mind, the rows of jetties here are a preservation of what the kelongs of Singapore’s past were. As a millennial who’s not lived a single day without interacting with some form of tech, it was enlightening to have this little glimpse into the bygone era of our parents and grandparents.
The future of the Jenal Jetty remains uncertain. While the plan for the bridge is still up for consideration, no one truly knows if or when this community will disappear or be relocated. With more coastal trash drifting ashore, Jenal Jetty may not seem essential anymore. But maybe, one day, its gates will be open for us to reconnect with Singapore’s fishing heritage.
For more gems of the past:
Photography by Huiwen Chan.
Originally published on 7th July 2021. Last updated by Nathan Koh on 23rd September 2025.